Hot on the heels of revealing several discarded video game concepts, including a unique 'Forgetting Game' where the protagonist's memory and skills deteriorate with breaks in gameplay, Hideo Kojima has now disclosed a more personal and poignant plan. In an interview with Edge magazine, as reported by VGC, Kojima shared that he has prepared a USB stick filled with game ideas for his team at Kojima Productions to use after his passing.
Kojima's perspective on life and work shifted dramatically during the global pandemic. He recounted falling seriously ill and undergoing an eye operation around his 60th birthday. These health challenges made him acutely aware of his mortality and the finite nature of his creative career. "Turning 60 was less of a turning point in my life than my experiences during the pandemic," he reflected. "I fell seriously ill at that time, and also had an eye operation. Until then, I didn’t think I was old, you know? I just didn’t feel my age, and I assumed I would be able to create for as long as I live."
Kojima has been contemplating his legacy and the future of Kojima Productions. Photo by John Phillips/Gett[ttpp]y Images for Warner Bros. Pictures.
This realization spurred him to diversify his projects and secure the future of his studio. "I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will," Kojima explained. His hope is that these ideas will enable Kojima Productions to continue innovating and creating new games, rather than merely managing existing intellectual properties.
In a recent episode of his Japanese radio podcast KOJI10, Kojima delved into his fascination with incorporating real-time mechanics into games. He shared a scrapped concept from the upcoming "Death Stranding 2: On The Beach" where the protagonist Sam's beard would grow over time, requiring the player to shave it to keep Sam looking sharp. "However, as Norman Reedus is a big star, I didn’t want to make him look uncool!" Kojima noted, though he hinted at possibly revisiting this idea in future projects.
Kojima also unveiled three innovative game concepts centered around the passage of time. The first is a life simulation game where the player ages from childhood to old age, with physical abilities and strategic approaches evolving accordingly. "But no-one would buy it!" Kojima humorously remarked, though his podcast co-hosts showed enthusiasm for such a concept.
Another idea involves creating a game where players nurture products like wine or cheese over extended periods, suggesting a potential idle game format. Finally, he proposed the 'Forgetting Game,' where the protagonist loses memory and skills if the player takes long breaks, challenging them to complete the game swiftly.
Amidst these creative explorations, Kojima and Kojima Productions are juggling multiple high-profile projects. Alongside "Death Stranding 2," they are developing a live-action "Death Stranding" film with A24, "OD" for Xbox Game Studios, and a video game and movie hybrid "Physint" for Sony. However, the ongoing video game actors' strike has delayed "OD" and "Physint," leaving their release dates uncertain.
